Are you tired of arguing with your kids? Do you wish your kids would take responsibility for their actions? Heres an easy way. Lets find out about Time Out (T.O.) using my 3 special twists. You can easily use them with kids from ages 3 to 11 many years old.

When my boys we are growing up, I used T.O. commonly. If they sassed, snuck out to play without doing their chores, or fought with each other, they went to T.O. First, Ill describe T.O. Then Ill add my 3 special twists.

Use Time Out when your child misbehaves:

Place your child in a boring room (no TV, computers, or toys.)
Use a timer and set one minute for each year of your childs age.
For example, wind the timer to 3 minutes for a 3 year-old and 9 minutes for a 9 year- old.
Calm yourself down and think wisely while your child is in T.O.
Let your child out of T.O. when the timer buzzes.
Do not lecture. Your child wont listen anyway.

My Three Time Out Twists:

1. I sent my sons to the bathroom floor.
2. When either son came out of T.O., he had to tell me why he was sent there. If he said, "I dunno," I sent him back.
3. When either son was in T.O., Id calm myself down and decide whether his behavior deserved something more than T.O. If it did, Id tell him, "This is serious. I positive need more time to ruminate on further consequences."

Why the bathroom floor?

One of my sons would look in the bathroom mirror while crying. The sight of himself in tears made him feel sorry for himself and encouraged him to cry even more. Hed see himself as the victim of a mean mom - me. Sitting on the floor put a stop to that. After all, he was there to ruminate on what he had done.

How did they take responsibility?

By telling me why they we are sent to T.O., they we are admitting what they had done wrong. Usually, Id say, "Yes," and they we are costless to go. Sometimes Id have to bite my tongue to stop the lectures from tumbling out.

What excess consequences did they get?

If they needed more consequences besides T.O., I tried to contruct the consequence fit the crime. Here are some:

1. No bike for a week if they snuck out to ride it without doing their chores.
2. Apologize if they said something mean.
3. Write or draw what happened and how they could have handled it better.

If you want to parent without arguments, listen to your children take responsibility for their behaviors, and, if you are willing to be consistent, ruminate on using Time Out with my 3 twists. If you do, youll have a happier household, a more peaceful household, and youll be building character too.